IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


2.5 


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1.8 


U    i  1.6 


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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microroproductions  historiques 


^\v  . 


Technical  and  BibtSographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  at  bibliographiques 


The  institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
originai  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibiiogr^phically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checlted  below. 


0    Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


D 


D 


□ 


D 


Couverture  endommagte 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurie  et/ou  pellicul6e 


I      I   Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


I     I   Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  g^ographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  biacit)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I      I   Coloured  piatett  and/or  illustrations/ 


D 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
ReliA  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serr6e  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  int6rieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
i\  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajoutAes 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  Atait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  film6es. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppitmentaires; 


L'institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mithode  normaie  de  filmage 
sont  indiqu6s  ci-dessous. 


I      I    Coloured  pages/ 


D 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommag^es 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  peiiicul^es 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxei 
Pages  d6color6es,  tachet6es  ou  piqudes 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ddtachdes 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Qualiti  in6gale  de  I'impresslon 

Includes  supplementary  materii 
Comprend  du  materiel  suppl^mentalre 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


I — I  Pages  damaged/ 

I — I  Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

I — I  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

I      I  Pages  detached/ 

I      I  Showthrough/ 

I      I  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I      I  Includes  supplementary  material/ 

I — I  Only  edition  available/ 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  palure, 
etc.,  ont  M  fiimAes  A  nouveau  de  fapon  A 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


T 


T 

P 
o 

fi 


G 
b 
tl 

si 
o 
fi 

si 
o 


T 
si 
T 

d 

ei 
b 
ri 
r( 
rr 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film6  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


30X 


/ 


12X 


16X 


20X 


a4X 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  hare  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 


L'exemplaire  film*  fut  reproduit  grAce  A  la 
g^n^rosit*  de: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Las  images  suivantes  ont  M  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettet6  de  l'exemplaire  film6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  -^^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimAe  sont  filmAs  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration.  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  film6s  en  commengant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  chaque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  •— ^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
film6s  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clich6,  il  est  film*  A  partir 
de  Tangle  supdriour  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  n^cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


1     1  ■ 

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3 

1 

2 

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6 

PRICE  TWENTY-FIVE  CENTS. 

ALASKA.   Vt"^ 


INTERESTING  AND  RELIABLE  INFORMATION 
.  RELATING  THERETO. 


CONTAININQ  ALSO  THE 


% 


Organic  Act  of  the  Territory. 


By  B.  K.  GOWLES, 

Commissioner  for  Alaska  to  the  American  Exposition, 

New  Orleans. 


For  Sale  by  Booksellers  Generally,  and  Mailed  to 

any  Address  by  the  Publishers  or  Author 

on  receipt  of  Price. 


MADISON,  WIS.: 

Democrat  Cumponf ,  Printers  «ind  Stereotypers, 

1886. 


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Al!eh)v«t 


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ALASKA. 


■■«;..' 


INTERESTING  AND  RELIABLE  INFORMATION 
RELATING  THERETO. 


CONTAINING  ALSO   THE 


Orcranic  Act  of  the  Territory. 


Bv  B.  K.  COWLES, 

Commissioner  for  Alaska  to  the  American  Exposition, 

New  Orleans. 


For  Sale  by  Booksellers  Generally,  and  Mailed  to 

any  Address  bythe  Publishers  or  Author 

on  receipt  of  Price. 


^    « 


MADISON,  WI3.: 

Democrat  Co.,  Printers  and  Sterjotypers. 

1885. 


233587 


PREFACE. 


I  have  adopted  this  method  as  a  brief,  concise  and 
I  hope  satisfactory  manner  of  replying  to  thousands 
•of  questions  and  dozens  of  letters  received  by  me 
asking  for  information  relative  to  the  country  which 
is  just  now  attracting  such  widespread  attention. 

It  has  been  my  aim,  not  to  elaborate  on  any  par- 
ticular point,  but  briefly  to  give  such  information  as, 
judging  from  the  general  nature  of  the  inquiries 
made  a  great  majority  of  persons  are  desirous  of  ac- 
quiring. B.  K.  COWLES, 

Sitka,  Alaska. 

Where  is  Alaska?  Strange  as  it  may  seem  to 
many,  this  is  a  question  often  asked,  and  I  will  ^'eply 
to  it  first.  It  is  the  extreme  northwest  portion  of 
the  United  States,  extending  from  latitude  54"  40'  to 
the  totally  unexplored  regions  of  the  Arctic  Sea,  and 
lying  between  longitude  131"  and  193°  west  from 
Greenwich,  that  is  to  say,  covering  62  degrees  of 
longitude. 

It  was  discovered  by  Vitus  Behring  in  1741,  was 
originally  known  as  Russian  America,  was  purchased 
from  Russia  in  1867  for  the  sum  of  $7,200,000,  and 
is  the  largest  possession  of  the  United  States.  The 
land  portion  contains  531,491  square  miles.  Its  ex- 
treme length  north  and  south  is  1,100  miles,  and  its 
extreme  breadth  800  miles,  a  distance  greater  north 
and  south,  than  from  Lake  Michigan  to  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico,  and  almost  equal  east  and  west  from  the 
same  lake  to  New  York  City. 

The  Aleutian  Islands,  which  are  a  part  of  Alaska, 
extend  so  far  into  the  Pacific  Ocean  that  the  Geo- 
graphical centre  of  the  United  States  east  and  west 
is  found  in  that  body  of  water  about  500  miles  west 
of  San  Francisco.  From  the  above  figures  a  faint 
idea  can  be  formed  of  the  immensity  of  this  terri- 
;tory. 


8 


HOW   DO   YOU   GET   THERE? 

We  will  sUjjpose  your  starting  point  lo  he  east  of 
the  Rocky  Mountains.  Vou  will  go  to  Portland, 
Oregon,  undoubtedly  by  the  Northern  Pacific  K.  R 
That  line  offers  the  inducements  of  through  trains 
from  St.  Paul  with  a  deservedly  popular  Dining  Car 
service.  The  ride  from  St.  Paul  to  the  Pacific  Coast 
on  the  N.  P.  R.  R.  is  replete  with  interest  and 
combines  the  maximum  of  comfort,  safety  and 
speed.  At  Portland  you  can  take  the  steamer  be- 
tween the  first  and  third  day  of  each  month,  direct  to 
all  points  in  Alaska. 

If  you  desire  to  avoid  the  bar  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Columbia  River,  as  well  as  several  hours  of  open 
ocean,  you  can  go  by  rail  to  Tacoma,  thence  by  boat 
on  Puget's  Sound  to  Port  Townsend,  where  you  can 
await  the  arrival  of  the  steamer  that  you  might  have 
taken  at  Portland.  By  leaving  Portland  the  same 
day  that  the  steamer  sails,  your  stay  at  Portland  will 
not  be  tedious,  having  to  remain  there  only  about 
twenty-four  hours.  This  steamer  carries  the  Alaska 
mails  and  takes  them  on  at  Port  Townsend,  so  there 
is  no  danger  of  one's  missing  the  boat;  and  the  trip 
from  Tacoma  to  Port  Townsend  across  Puget's 
Sound  is  a  very  delightful  one.  The  fare  in  both 
cases  will  amount  to  about  the  same  thing.  (See 
table  of  fares).  If  you  desire  a  short  stay  at  Vic- 
toria on  Van  Couver's  Island,  instead  of  stopping  at 
Townsend,  continue  your  journey  to  Victoria  by  the 
same  boat.  A  visit  to  this  delighlful  island  will 
fully  repay  any  one,  and  the  Alaska  steamer  can  be 
taken  at  that  point,  as  it  stops  there  after  leaving 
Port  Townsend.  The  fare  from  Port  Townsend  to 
all  points  in  Alaska  is  the  same  as  from  Victoria,  and 
the  latter  place  is  by  far  the  pleasanter  of  the  two. 

Should  you  make  a  stop  at  Victoria,  by  no  means 
fail  to  call  at  the  "Driard,"  The  excellence  of  its 
table  is  famous  the  entire  length  of  the  Pacific  coast, 
and  the  name  of  its  proprietor,  Redon,  is  a  synonym 
for  all  that  is  hospitable,  gracious  and  polite.  Its 
charges  are  the  same  as  other  first-class  hotels  in  the 
States. 


Shopping  in  Victoria,  however,  is  out  of  the  ques- 
tion as  persons  of  ordinary  means  can  not  afford  to 
pay  the  prices  asked  by  Victoria  merchants.  'J'he 
chief  point  of  interest  is  the  harl)or  of  Kscpiimalt 
where  generally  lie  five  or  six  English  men  of  war. 
From  Victoria  the  steamer  will  go  to  Nanaimo  to 
take  on  coal.  Nanaimo  is  on  Vancouver's  Island 
seventy-five  miles  from  Victoria,  and  is  the  last  point 
touched  by  the  Alaska  steamer  before  starting  on  its 
voyage  of  a  thousand  miles  to  Sitka.  Leaving  Nana- 
imo the  steamer  turns  its  head  northward  and  ])lows 
its  way  through  the  waters  of  the  Gulf  of  Georgia. 
At  the  further  end  of  Vancouver's  Island,  O^ieen 
Charlotte's  Sound  is  crossed,  and  here  for  about  three 
hours  is  felt  the  swell  of  the  Pacific. 

The  rest  of  the  voyage  is,  with  one  or  two  excep- 
tions, scarcely  worth  mentioning,  made  through  the 
,  narrow  channels  of  the  Archipelago,  and  is  spoken  of 
as  the  inside  passage,  and  without  doubt  is  one  of  the 
most  wonderful,  beautiful  and  delightful  trips,  not 
only  on  this  continent,  but  on  the  entire  globe. 

To  latitude  54"'  40'  the  voyage  is  through  British 
waters,  but  at  this  point  the  boat  again  enters  the 
United  States'  possessions.  Its  first  stop  will  be  made 
at  a  trading  post  called  Loring,  its  next  at  a  fishing 
s^ntion  called  Kasa-an.  This  fishery  is  owned  by 
Capt.  Carroll  the  man  in  command  of  the  steamer 
which  carries  you  to  Alaska.  The  next  stop  will  be 
Ft.  Wrangell  though  possibly  the  boat  may  put  in  at 
old  Ft.  Tougass,  both  of  which  places  were  formerly 
occupied  by  United  States  troops,  but  are  now  aban- 
doned, and  quiet  and  decadence  reign  supreme.  At 
Ft.  Wrangell  parties  who  are  desirous  of  visiting  the 
Cassiar  Mines  in  British  Columbia,  leave  the  Alaska 
boat  and  voyage  up  the  Steekene  River  in  canoes. 

Leaving  Ft.  Wrangell  the  steamer  makes  its  way  to 
Juneau;  the  most  important  mining  camp  at  present 
in  Alaska,  containing  six  hundred  inhabitants. 
Opposite  Juneau  is  Douglass  Island,  upon  which  is 
located  the  famous  Tread  well  Mine.  The  mill  at 
this  mine  is  said  to  be  the  most  complete  and  largest 
of  its  kind  in  the  world,  having  120  stamps  under  one 
roof.     The  vein  of  gold   bearing   quartz    is  430  feet 


1 


5 

wide  but  of  a  low  grade  of  ore.  It  is  most  favorably 
situated  in  relation  to  tide  water  and  ])ays  net,  about 
$6.75  a  ton,  turning  out  per  month  from  $70,000  to 
$100,000.  The  property  is  owned  by  San  Franciseo 
parties. 

About  three  miles  back  of  Juneau  is  the  Silver 
Bow  Basin,  phenomenally  rich  in  gold  bearing  quartz 
and  placer  claims. 

About  60  miles  beyond  Juneau  is  the  Chilcat  coun- 
try. From  this  place  the  miners  and  Indians  have  a 
trail  some  35  miles  in  length,  to  a  chain  of  lakes  about 
300  miles  long  which  connect  with  the  1  ead  waters 
of  the  Yukon  River.  This  river  is  not  only  one  of  the 
largest  on  this  continent,  but  one  of  the  largest  in  the 
world,  and  from  the  point  at  which  i^iners  strike  it, 
to  its  mouth,  is  a  distance  of  two  thousand  miles. 
Valuable  mineral  discoveries  have  been  made  on  the 
banks  of  the  river  and  I  have  reliable  information  that 
one  miner  has  staked  a  claim  on  a  vein  of  gold  bear- 
ing quartz,  six  hundred  feet  wide. 

From  Juneau  the  steamer  makes  its  way  180  miles 
to  the  southwest  to  Sitka,  the  capital  of  the  territory 
and  located  on  Baronhoff  Island.  The  population  of 
Sitka  is  as  follows:  60  native  Americans,  240  Rus- 
sians, and  from  500  to  1,200  native  Alaskans.  The 
native  American  population  of  southeastern  Alaska 
probably  does  not  exceed  1,000  s^uls,  though  the 
white  populatien  of  the  entire  territory  is  estimated 
by  Gov.  Swineford  in  his  annual  report  at  1,900. 

Tourists  who  have  seen  every  harbor  of  note  on 
the  globe  declare  the  Sitka  harbor,  in  point  of  beauty, 
to  have  its  equal  only  in  the  harbors  of  Rio  Janeiro 
and  Nagasaki,  in  Japan. 

The  government  buildings  are  located  at  Sitka,  also 
a  Greek  church  and  a  Presbyterian  Mission  School. 
There  are  five  trading  stores,  which  do  a  considerable 
business,  and  a  photograph  gallery,  and  an  establish- 
ment for  the  exclusive  sale  of  Alaskan  curios  will  be 
opened  this  coming  spring  of  1886.  A  United  States 
man-of-war  is  generally  found  lying  either  at  Juneau 
or  Sitka,  and  at  the  latter  place  a  body  of  marines  are 
quartered  under  the  command  of  a  United  States 
naval  officer.  The  present  commandant  is  Lieut.  Bar- 


nett,  of  the  marine  service,  who  hails  from  Wiscon- 
sin, and  is  a  graduate  of  the  Annapolis  Naval  School. 
The  only  physician  in  Sitka,  is  the  surgeon  of  the  man- 
of-war,  and  when  that  nomadic  institution  is  not  "pres- 
ent or  accounted  for"  the  capital  of  Alaska  has  no  one 
to  cure  the  ills  that  Alaskan  flesh  is  heir  to,  and  it  oc 
curs  to  the  author  that  a  fine  opportunity  is  offered 
for  a  worthy  disciple  of  Aesculapius  to  establish  him- 
self in  a  good  business  at  Sitka,  as  the  native  Alas- 
kans need  the  services  of  a  physician  to  an  alarming 
extent.  The  law  is  looked  after  by  several  able  and 
talented  followers  of  Blackstone. 

On  the  Aleutian  Islands  and  at  Sitka,  and  through- 
out southeastern  Alaska  generally,  root  crops  are 
raised  without  much  difficulty.  Extreme  dampness 
and  want  of  summer  heat,  prevent  the  ripening  of 
grain.  Many  kinds  of  edible  berries  are  plentiful 
and  at  the  foot  of  Mt.  St.  Elias,  strawberries  in  their 
season  are  found  in  the  greatest  abundance.  Timber 
abounds  both  on  the  mainland  and  islands,  and  there 
are  five  species  ot  valuable  woods.  Commercially 
considered  they  range  as  fellows:  Yellow  cedar, 
spruce,  hemlock,  elder  and  a  species  of  fir  or  black 
pme. 

The  yellow  cedar,  susceptible  of  taking  a  very  fine 
polish,  is  considered  valuable  for  boat  building  and 
finishing  purposes.  It  sells  for  $80  per  thousand 
in  San  Francisco.  It  possesses  a  delightful  odor 
which  like  camphor  wood,  it  retains  for  a  long  time, 
and  manufactured  into  boxes  and  chests  is  very  valua- 
ble for  packing  furs  and  other  goods  as  it  is  said  to 
be  a  moth  preventive. 

A  good  quality  of  white  marble  is  found  on  Lynn 
Canal.  Valuable  coal  discoveries  have  been  made 
near  Killisnoo,  at  which  place  also  the  Northwest 
Trading  Co.  have  a  very  extensive  establishment, 
where  they  manufacture  oil  and  guano  from  the 
herring,  and  pack  and  export  codfish  in  large  num- 
bers. Gold,  silver,  copper,  cinnabar  and  iron  are 
found  in  apparently  inexhaustible  quantities  through- 
out the  territory,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Sitka,  the 
most  valuable  gold  claims  yet  discovered,  are  about 
being  developed  by  a  company  incorporated  under 


vl^ 


the  laws  of  Wisconsin,  which  lias  lately  purchased  the 
properties.     Ore  taken  at  random  from  these  mines 

I  has  assayed  into  the  thousands. 

I  Twenty-four  miles  from  Sitka   is  Mt.    Edgecomh, 

I  an  extinct   volcano.     The   contour   of  the   mountain 

plainly  shows  the  old  crater,  and  is  an  object  of  great 
interest  to  all  visitors  and    tourists.     Do   not  fail  to 

j  take  a  look  at  this  mountain  of  extinct  fire  and  flame. 

The  fur-bearing  animals  of  Alaska  are  numerous 
and  among  them  are  to  be  found  the  '  eaver,  fox, 
marten,  ermine,  otter  and  wolf.  Cinnamon  and 
black  bear  are  found  in  great  numbers  in  all  part^  of 
southeastern  Alaska,  while  furth.i  north,  "ear  the 
grc.i'.  river  Yukon,  the  reindeer  and.  the  grizzly 
bear  roam  undisturbed  by  mar.  llie  islands 
literally  swarm  with  deer  and  venison,  and  fish  of 
.  various  kinds  are  the  main  food  supply  of  the 
Alaskans. 

y  Game  fish  of  many  kinds  are  caught   both  in  the 

fresh  and  salt  water.  At  Sitka  two  distinct  species  of 
brook  trout  are  taken  in  the  mountain  streams. 
Salmon  trout  are  caught  in  the  Indian  River,  and 
in  the  salt  waters  of  the  harbor.  Rock  cod,  sea- 
trout,  black  bass  and  halibut  afford  great  sport  as 
well  as  delicious  food  for  those  who  are  piscatorially 
inclined.  The  Alaska  Commercial  Company  has  a 
monopoly  of  the  fur  seal  business,  for  which  they  pay 
to  the  United  States  an  annual  rental  of  $55,000,  and 
a  royalty  of  $2.62  V2  for  each  seal  killed  and  are  lim- 
ited to  the  killing  of  100,000  seals  annually.  The 
principal  points  where  the  fur  seal  is  caught  are  the 
Islands  of  St.  George  and  St.  Paul,  belonging  to 
the  Pri by loff  group,  some  1,700  miles  west  of  Sitka.. 
The  territorial  officers  o  nsist  of  a  governor,  dis- 
trict judge,  district  attorney,  marshal  and  surveyor 
general,  collector  of  customs,  and  .;  clerk  of  the  dis- 
trict court,  who  is  also  ex-officio  secretary  and  treas- 
urer. The  first  two  mentioned  officers  receive  a 
salary  of  $3,000  each,  and  the  other  mentioned  offi- 
cers a  salary  of  $2,500  each,  with  certain  fees.  The 
mean  annual  temperature  of  Sitka  is  about  forty-four 
degrees,  the  winter  temperature  at  that  place  being 
about  the  same  as  that  of  Washington,    D.    C.     The 


8 


mercury  seldom  rises  higher  than  eighty-two  degrees 
in  summer.  The  rain  fall  at  Sitka  is  copious,  the 
annual  precipitation  being  sixty-five  to  ninety  inches. 
The  language  spoken  by  the  Indians  at  Sitka  is  the 
Thlinket,  although  to  a  great  extent  they  use  the 
jargon  common  to  all  Indians  of  the  Pacific  coast 
from  Oregon  to  Mt.  St.  Elias. 

There  is  a  paucity  of  domestic  animals  in  Alaska 
as  yet,  five  mules,  two  horses,  and  not  to  exceed  a 
dozen  cows  constitute  the  entire  outfit  in  that  line,  in 
the  southeastern  portion  of  the  territory.  At  Sitka 
there  are  a  few  chickens  that  sell  for  $i,oo  each;  eggs 
bring  75  cents  per  dozen  and  milk  80  cents  a  gallon. 
There  is  good  grazing  on  islands  in  the  Sitka  Harbor 
and  a  remunerative  industry  might  be  worked  up 
raising  vegetables,  milk  and  poultry  for  the  Sitka  and 
Juneau  markets.  .    ,    .  - 


TAHLE    OF   RATES.    - 

St.  Paul  to  Sitka $i53-5o 

St.  Paul  to  Portland 93  -  5^ 

St.  Paul  to  Portland,  Emigrant 53- 50 

Sleeping  car  fare,  one  birth  from  St.  Paul  to 

Portland 15  -OO 

Meals  on  Dining  Car,  each .75 

Portland  to  Tecoma  by  rail 7.00 

Tecoma  to  Port  Tovvnsend  by  boat 3-75 

Tecoma  to  Victoria  by  boat 4-75 

Meals  on  boat  on  Puget  Sound,  each .50 

Portland  to  Port  Townsend  by  steamer 10.00 

Portland  to  Victoria  by  steamer. 10.00 

Portland  to  any  point  in  Alaska 60.00 

Port  Tovvnsend   or  Victoria  to  any  point  in 

Alaska 50.00 

The  fare  on  the  Alaska  steamer  includes  state-room 
and  meals. 

N.  B.  The  N.  P.  R.  R.  furnish  free  of  charge 
sleeping  accomodations  to  the  purchasers  of  emigrant 
tickets,  the  purchaser  furnishing  his  own  bedding. 

During  the  First  Session  of  the  Forty-eighth  Con- 
gress, the  following  bill,  originating  in  the  Senate, 
became  a  law: 


^ 


AN   ACT    PROVIDING  A  CIVIL   G0VP:RNMENT   FOR 

ALASKA. 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Represen- 
tatives of  the  United  States  of  America  in  Congress 
assemble  {,  That  the  territory  ceded  to  the  United 
States  by  Russia  by  the  treaty  of  March  thirtieth, 
eighteen  hundred  and  sixty-seven,  and  known  as 
Alaska,  shall  constitute  a  civil  and  judicial  district, 
the  government  of  which  shall  be  organized  and  ad- 
ministered as  hereinafter  provided.  The  temporary 
seat  of  government  of  said  district  is  hereby  estab- 
lished at  Sitka. 

wSection  2.  That  there  shall  be  appointed  for  the 
said  district  a  governor,  M'ho  shall  reside  therein  dur- 
ing his  term  of  office  and  be  charged  with  the  inter- 
ests of  the  United  States  Government  that  may  arise 
within  said  district.  To  the  end  aforesaid  he  shall 
have  authority  to  see  that  the  laws  enacted  for  said 
district  are  enforced,  and  to  require  the  faithful  dis- 
charge of  their  duties  by  the  officials  appointed  to 
administer  the  same.  He  may  also  grant  reprieves 
for  offences  committed  a2:ainst  the  laws  of  the  district 
or  of  the  United  States  until  the  decision  of  the  Pres- 
ident thereon  shall  be  made  known.  He  shall  be  ex 
officio  commander-in-chief  of  the  militia  of  said  dis- 
trict, and  shall  have  power  to  call  out  the  same  when 
necessary  to  the  due  execution  of  the  laws  and  to 
preserve  the  peace,  and  to  cause  all  able-bodied  citi- 
izens  of  the  United  States  in  said  district  to  enroll 
and  serve  as  such  when  the  public  exigency  demands; 
and  he  shall  perform  generally  in  and  over  said  district 
such  acts  as  pertain  to  the  office  of  governor  of  a 
territory,  so  far  as  the  same  may  be  made  or  become 
applicable  thereto.  He  shall  make  an  annual  report 
on  the  first  day  of  October  in  each  year,  to  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  of  his  official  acts  and  do- 
ings, and  of  the  condition  of  said  district,  with 
reference  to  its  resources,  industries,  population,  and 
the  administration  of  the  civil  government  thereof. 
And  the  President  of  the  United  States  shall  have 
power  to  review  and  to  confirm  or  annul  any  re- 
prieves granted  or  other  acts  done  by  him. 


10 

Section  3.  That  there  shall  be,  and  hereby  is,, 
established  a  district  court  for  said  district,  with  the 
civil  and  criminal  jurisdiction  of  district  courts  of  the 
United  States  exercising  the  jurisdiction  of  circuit 
courts,  and  such  other  jurisdiction,  not  inconsistent 
with  this  act,  as  may  be  established  by  law;  and  a 
district  judge  shall  be  appointed  for  said  district,  who- 
shall  during  his  term  of  office  reside  therein  and  hold 
at  least  two  terms  of  said  court  therein  in  each  year,, 
one  at  Sitka,  beginning  on  the  first  Monday  in  May, 
and  the  other  at  Wrangel,  beginning  on  the  first 
Monday  in  November.  He  is  also  authorized  and 
directed  to  hold  such  special  sessions  as  may  be  nec- 
essary for  the  dispatch  of  the  business  of  said  court, 
at  such  times  and  places  in  said  district  as  he  may 
deem  expedient,  and  may  adjourn  such  special  session 
to  any  other  time  previous  to  a  regular  session.  He 
shall  have  authority  to  employ  interpreters,  and  to 
make  allowances  for  the  necessary  expenses  of  his 
court. 

Section  4.  That  a  clerk  shall  be  appointed  for 
said  court,  who  shall  be  ex  officio  secretary  and  treas- 
urer of  said  district,  a  district  r'^torney,  and  a  mar- 
shal, all  of  whom  shall  during  their  terms  of  office 
reside  therein.  The  clerk  shall  record  and  pre- 
serve copies  of  all  the  laws,  proceedings,  and  official 
acts  applicable  to  said  district.  He  shall  also  receive 
all  moneys  collected  from  fines,  forfeitures,  or  in  any 
other  manner  except  from  violations  of  the  custom 
laws,  and  shall  apply  the  same  to  the  incidental  ex- 
penses of  said  district  court  and  the  allowances  thereof 
as  directed  by  the  judge  of  said  court,  and  shall  ac- 
count for  the  same  in  detail,  and  for  any  balances  on 
account  thereof,  quarterly,  to  and  under  the  direction 
of  the  secretary  of  the  treasury.  He  shall  be  ex  officio 
recorder  of  deeds  and  mortgages  and  certificates  of 
location  of  mining  claims  and  other  contracts  relating 
to  real  estate  and  register  of  wills  for  said  district, 
and  shall  establish  secure  offices  in  the  town  of  Sitka 
and  Wrangel,  in  said  district,  for  the  safekeeping  of 
all  his  official  records,  and  of  records  concerning  the 
reformation  and  establishment  of  the  present  status 
of  titles  to  lands,  as  hereinafter  directed:     Provided y 


*'t 


11 

That  the  district  court  hereby  created  may  direct,  if 
it  shall  deem  expedient,  the  establishment  of  separ- 
ate offices  at  the  settlements  at  Wrangel,  Oonalashka, 
and  Juneau  City,  respectively,  for  the  recording  of 
such  instruments  as  may  pertain  to  the  several  na- 
tural divisions  of  said  district  most  convenient  to  said 
settlements,  the  limits  of  which  shall,  in  the  event  of 
such  direction,  be  defined  V)y  said  court;  and  said 
offices  shall  be  in  charge  ol  the  commissioners  respec- 
tively hereinafter  provided. 

Section  5.  That  there  shall  be  appointed  by  the 
President  four  commissioners  in  and  for  the  said  dis- 
trict, who  shall  have  the  jurisdiction  and  powers  of 
commissioners  of  the  United  States  circuit  courts  in 
any  part  of  said  district,  but  who  shall  reside,  one  at 
Sitka,  one  at  Wrangel,  one  at  Oonalashka,  and  one  at 
Juneau  City.  Such  commissioners  shall  exercise  all 
the  duties  and  powers,  civil  and  criminal,  now  con- 
ferred on  justices  of  the  peace  under  the  general  laws 
of  the  state  of  Oregon,  so  far  as  the  same  may  be 
applicable  in  said  district,  and  may  not  be  in  conflict 
with  this  act,  or  the  laws  of  the  United  States.  They 
shall  also  have  jurisdiction,  subject  to  the  supervision 
of  the  district  judge,  in  all  testamentary  and  probate 
matters,  and  for  this  purpose  their  courts  shall  be 
opened  at  stated  terms  and  be  courts  of  record,  and 
be  provicied  with  a  seal  for  the  authentication  of  their 
official  acts.  They  shall  also  have  power  to  grant 
writs  of  habeas  corpus  for  the  purpose  of  inquiring 
into  the  cause  of  restraint  of  liberty,  which  writs 
shall  be  made  returnable  before  the  said  district  judge 
for  said  district;  and  like  proceedings  shall  be  had 
thereon  as  if  the  same  had  been  granted  by  said  judge 
under  the  general  laws  of  the  United  States  in  such 
cases.  Said  commissioners  shall  also  have  the  powers 
of  notaries  public,  and  shall  kf^pa  recotdof  all  deeds 
and  other  instruments  of  writing  acknowledged  before 
them  and  relating  to  the  title  to  or  transfer  of  pro- 
perty within  said  district,  which  record  shall  be  sub- 
ject to  public  inspection.  Said  commissioners  shall 
also  keep  a  record  of  all  fines  and  forfeitures  re- 
ceived y  them,  and  shall  pay  over  the  same  quar- 
terly to  the  clerk  of  said  district  court.    The  governor 


13 

appointed  under  the  provisions  of  this  act  shall,  from 
time  to  time,  inquire  into  the  operations  of  the  Alas- 
ka Seal  and  Fur  Company,  and  shall  annually  report 
to  Congress  the  result  of  such  inquiries  and  any 
and  all  violations  by  said  company  of  the  agreement 
existing  between  the  United  States  and  said  com- 
pany. 

Section  6.  That  the  marshal  for  said  district 
shall  have  the  general  authority  and  powers  of  the 
United  States  marshalls  of  the  States  and  Territories. 
He  shall  be  the  executive  officer  of  said  court,  and 
charged  with  the  execution  of  all  processes  of  said 
court  and  "'ith  the  transportation  and  custody  of  pris- 
oners, and  he  shall  be  ex  oj^cio  keeper  of  the  jail  or 
penitentiary  of  said  district.  He  shall  appoint  four 
deputies,  who  shall  reside  severally  at  the  towns  of 
Sitka,  Wrangel,  Oonalashka  and  Juneau  City,  and 
they  shall  respectively  be  ex-officio  constables  and 
executive  officers  of  the  commissioners'  courts  herein 
provided,  and  shall  have  the  powers  and  discharge  the 
duties  of  United  States  deputy  marshals,  and  those 
of  constables  under  the  laws  of  the  state  of  Oregon 
now  in  force. 

Sec  rioN  7.  That  the  general  laws  of  the  state  of 
Oregon  now  in  force  are  hereby  declared  to  be  the 
law  ni  said  district,  so  far  as  the  same  may  be  appli- 
cable and  not  in  conflict  with  the  provisions  of  this 
act  or  the  laws  of  the  United  States;  and  the  sen- 
tence of  imprisonment  in  any  criminal  case  shall  be 
carried  out  by  confinement  in  the  jail  or  penetentiary 
hereinafter  provided  for.  But  the  said  district  court 
shall  have  exclusive  jurisdiction  in  all  cases  in  equity 
or  those  involving  a  question  of  title  to  land,  or  min- 
ing rights,  or  the  constitutionality  of  a  law,  and  in  all 
criminal  offenses  which  are  capital.  In  all  civil  cases 
at  common  law,  any  issue  of  fact  shall  be  determined 
by  a  jury,  at  the  instance  of  either  party;  and  an  ap- 
peal shall  lie  in  any  case,  civil  or  criminal,  Irom  the 
judgment  of  said  commissioners  to  the  said  district 
court,  where  the  amount  involved  in  any  civil  case  is 
two  hundred  dollars  or  more,  and  in  any  criminal  case 
where  a  fine  of  more  than  one  hundred  dollars  or  im- 
prisonment is  imposed,  upon  the  tiling  of  a  sufficient 


13 

appeal  bond  l)y  the  parly  appealing,  to  be  approved 
by  the  court  or  commissioner.  Writs  of  error  in 
criminal  cases  shall  issue  to  the  said  district  court 
from  the  United  States  circuit  court  for  the  district 
of  Oregon  in  the  cases  provided  in  chapter  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy-six  of  the  laws  of  eighteen  hundred 
and  seventy-nine;  and  the  jurisdiction  thereby  con- 
ferred upon  circuit  courts  is  hereby  given  to  the  cir- 
cuit court  of  Oregon.  And  the  final  Judgments  or 
decrees  of  said  circuit  and  district  court  may  be  re- 
viewed by  the  supreme  court  of  the  United  States  as 
in  other  cases. 

Section  8.  That  the  said  district  of  Alaska  is 
hereby  created  a  land  district,  and  a  United  States 
land  office  for  said  district  is  hereby  located  at  Sitka. 
The  commissioner  provided  for  by  this  act  to  reside 
at  Sitka  shall  be  exo  fficio  register  of  said  land  office, 
and  -the  clerk  provided  for  by  this  act  shall  be  ex 
officio  receiver  of  public  moneys,  and  the  marshal 
provided  for  by  this  act  shall  be  surveyor  general  of 
said  district,  and  the  laws  of  the  United  States  relat- 
ing to  mining  claims,  and  the  rights  incident  thereto, 
shall,  from  and  after  the  passage  of  this  act,  be  in  full 
force  and  effi^ct  in  said  district,  under  the  administration 
thereof  herein  provided  for,  subject  to  such  regula- 
tions as  may  be  made  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior, 
approved  by  the  President:  Frovided,  That  the 
Indians  or  other  persons  in  said  district  shall  not  be 
'^'isturbed  in  the  possession  of  any  lands  actually  in 
tjieir  use  or  occupation  or  now  claimed  by  them,  but 
the  terms  under  which  such  persons  may  accpiire  title 
to  such  lands  is  reserved  for  future  legislation  by 
Congress:  And  provided  further,  That  parties 
who  have  located  mines  or  mineral  privileges  therein 
under  the  laws  of  the  United  States  applicable  to  the 
public  domain,  or  who  have  occupied  and  improved 
or  exercised  acts  of  ownership  over  such  claims,  shall 
not  be  disturbed  therein,  but  shall  be  allowed  to  per- 
fect their  title  to  such  claims  by  payment  as  aforesaid: 
And  provided  also,  That  the  land  not  exceeding  six 
hundred  and  forty  acres  at  any  station  now  occupied 
as  missionary  stations  among  the  Indian  tribes  in 
said  section,  with  the  improvements  thereon  erected 


14 


by  or  for  such  societies,  shall  be  continued  in  the 
•occupancy  of  the  several  religious  societies  to  which 
said  missionary  stations  respectively  belong  until 
action  V)y  Congress.  But  nothing  contained  in  this 
act  shall  be  construed  to  put  in  force  in  said  district 
the  general  land  laws  of  the  United  States. 

SeCTlON  9.  That  the  governor,  attorney,  judge, 
marshal,  clerk,  and  commissioners  provided  for  in  this 
act  shall  be  appointed  by  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the 
Senate,  and  shall  hold  their  respective  offices  for  the 
term  of  four  years,  and  until  their  successors  are  ap- 
pointed and  qualified.  They  shall  severally  receive 
the  fees  of  oflice  established  by  law  for  the  several 
offices  the  duties  of  which  have  been  hereby  conferred 
upon  them,  as  the  same  are  determined  and  allowed 
in  respect  of  similar  offices  under  the  laws  of  the 
United  States,  which  fees  shall  be  reported  to  the 
Attorney  General  and  paid  into  the  Treasury  of  the 
United  States.  They  shall  receive  respectively  the 
following  annual  salaries.  The  governor,  the  sum  of 
three  thousand  dollars;  the  attorney,  the  sum  of  two 
thousand  five  hundred  dollars;  the  marshal,  the  sum 
of  two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars,  the  judge,  the 
sum  of  three  thousand  dollars;  and  the  clerk,  the  sum 
of  two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars,  payable  to  them 
quarterly  from  the  Treasury  of  the  United  Spates. 
The  district  judge,  marshal,  and  district  attorney 
shall  be  paid  their  actual,  necessary  expenses  when 
travelling  in  the  discharge  of  their  official  duties.  A 
detailed  account  shall  be  rendered  of  such  expenses 
under  oath  and  as  to  the  marshal  and  district  attorney 
such  account  shall  be  approved  by  the  judge,  and  as 
to  his  expenses  by  the  Attorney  General.  The  com- 
missioners shall  receive  the  usual  fees  of  United 
States  ccmmissioners  and  of  justices  of  the  peace  for 
Oregon,  and  such  fees  for  recording  instruments  as 
are  allowed  by  the  laws  01  Oregon  for  similar  services, 
and  in  addition  a  salary  of  one  thousand  dollars  each. 
The  deputy  marshals,  in  addition  to  the  usual  fees  of 
constables  in  Oregon,  shall  receive  each  a  salary  of 
seven  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  which  salaries  shall 
.also   be  payable  quarterly  out  of  the  Treasury  of  the 


i 


i 


! 


United  States.  Plach  of  said  officials  shall,  before 
entering  on  the  duties  of  his  office,  take  and  subscribe 
an  oath  that  he  will  faithfully  execute  the  same,  which 
said  oath  may  be  taken  before  the  judge  of  said 
district  or  any  United  States  district  or  circuit  judge. 
That  all  officers  appointed  for  said  district,  before 
entering  upon  the  duties  of  their  office  shall  take 
the  oaths  required  by  law,  and  the  laws  of  the  United 
vStates,  not  locally  inapplicable  to  said  district  and 
not  inconsistent  with  the  provisions  of  this  act  are 
hereby  extended  thereto,  but  there  shall  be  no 
legislative  assembly  in  said  district,  nor  shall  any 
delegate  be  sent  to  congress  therefrom.  And  the 
said  clerk  shall  execute  a  bond,  with  sufficient  sure- 
ties, in  the  penalty  of  ten  thousand  dollars,  for  the 
faithful  performance  of  his  duties,  and  file  the  same 
with  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  before  entering 
upon  the  duties  of  his  office;  and  the  commissioners 
shall  each  execute  a  bond,  with  sufficient  sureties,  in 
the  penalty  of  three  thousand  dollars,  for  the  faith- 
ful performance  of  their  duties,  and  file  the  same 
with  the  clerk  before  entering  upon  the  duties  of 
their  office. 

Section  io.  That  any  of  the  public  buildings  in 
said  district  not  required  for  the  customs  service  or 
military  purposes  shall  be  used  for  court  rooms  and 
offices  of  the  civil  government,  and  the  Secretary  of 
the  Treasury  is  hereby  directed  to  instruct  and 
authorize  the  custodian  of  said  buildings  forthwith  to 
make  such  repairs  to  the  jail  in  the  town  of  Sitka, 
in  said  district,  as  will  render  it  suitable  for  a  jail 
and  penitentiary  for  the  purposes  of  the  civil  govern- 
ment hereby  provided,  and  to  surrender  to  the  mar- 
shal the  custody  of  said  jail  and  the  other  public 
buildings,  or  such  parts  of  said  buildings  as  may  be 
selected  for  court-rooms,  offices,  and  officials. 

Section  ii.  That  the  Attorney-General  is  di- 
rected forthwith  to  compile  and  cause  to  be  printed, 
in  the  Ei  glish  language,  in  pamphlet  form,  so  much 
of  the  general  laws  of  the  United  States  as  are  ap- 
plicable to  the  duties  of  the  governor,  attorney, 
judge,  clerk,  marshals  and  commissioners  appointed 
for  said  district,  and  shall  furnish  for  the  use   of  the 


16 

•officers  of  said  Territory  so  many  copies  as  may  be 
needed  of  the  laws  of  Oregon  applicable  to  said  dis- 
trict. 

Section  12.  That  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior 
shall  select  two  of  the  officers  to  be  appointed  under 
this  act,  who,  together  with  the  governor,  shall  con- 
stitute a  commission  to  examine  into  and  report  upon 
the  condition  of  the  Indians  residing  in  said  Terri- 
tory, what  lands,  if  any,  should  be  reserved  for  their 
use,  what  provision  shall  be  made  for  their  educa- 
tion, what  rights  by  occupation  of  settlers  should  be 
recognized,  and  all  other  facts  that  may  be  necessary 
to  enable  Congress  to  determine  what  limitations 
may  be  imposed  when  the  land  laws  of  the  United 
States  shall  be  extended  to  said  district;  and  to  de- 
fray the  expenses  of  said  commission  the  sum  of 
two  thousand  dollars  is  hereby  appropriated  out  of 
any  moneys  in  the  treasury  not  otherwise  appro- 
priated. 

Section  13.  That  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior 
shall  make  needful  and  proper  provision  for  the  edu- 
cation of  the  children  of  school  age  in  the  Territory 
of  Alaska,  without  reference  to  race,  until  such  time 
as  permanent  provision  shall  be  made  for  the  same, 
and  the  sum  of  twenty-five  thousand  dollars,  or  so 
much  thereof  as  may  be  necessary,  is  hereby  appro- 
priated for  this  purpose. 

Section  14.  That  the  provisions  of  chapter  three, 
title  twenty-three,  of  the  revised  statutes  of  the 
United  States,  relating  to  the  unorganized  Territory 
of  Alaska,  shall  remain  in  lull  force,  except  as  herein 
specially  otherwise  provided;  and  the  importation, 
manufacture,  and  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors  in  said 
district  except  for  medicinal,  mechanical,  and  scien- 
tific purposes,  is  hereby  prohibited  under  the  penalties 
which  are  provided  in  section  nineteen  hundred  and 
fifty-five  of  the  revised  statutes  for  the  wrongful 
importation  of  distilled  spirits.  And  the  President 
of  the  United  States  shall  make  such  regulations  as 
are  necessary  to  carry  out  the  provisions  of  this 
section. 

Approved,  May  17,   1884. 


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